U.S. patent application number 11/043740 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-04 for loading system for paintball guns.
Invention is credited to Curtis, Shawn, Friesen, Brant.
Application Number | 20050166904 11/043740 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34800297 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050166904 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Friesen, Brant ; et
al. |
August 4, 2005 |
Loading system for paintball guns
Abstract
A loading system for a paintball gun comprises a paintball
reservoir having an outlet at a bottom thereof. An inlet opening is
defined in the reservoir, and a door covers the opening when in a
closed position, and movable to an open position. A paintball
canister has an opening, and a lid covers the opening when in a
closed position, and is movable to an open position. The system is
configured such that the canister can be engaged with the reservoir
with the door and lid in respective open positions such that
paintballs in the canister can flow into the reservoir, and the
canister can be locked to the reservoir. The system can be
configured such that the door and lid open automatically during
engagement, and such that the canister ejects when empty.
Inventors: |
Friesen, Brant; (Saskatoon,
CA) ; Curtis, Shawn; (Saskatoon, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STITES & HARBISON, PLLC
400 W MARKET ST
SUITE 1800
LOUISVILLE
KY
40202-3352
US
|
Family ID: |
34800297 |
Appl. No.: |
11/043740 |
Filed: |
January 26, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/45 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 11/52 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/045 |
International
Class: |
F41B 011/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 29, 2004 |
CA |
2,456,454 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A loading system for a paintball gun, the system comprising: a
paintball reservoir having an outlet at a bottom thereof adapted
for connection to a paintball gun such that paintballs contained in
the reservoir will flow through the outlet from the reservoir into
the paintball gun for firing; an inlet opening in an upper portion
of the reservoir, and a door operative to cover the inlet opening
when in a closed position, and movable to an open position; a
paintball canister having an opening, and a lid operative to cover
the opening in the canister when in a closed position, and movable
to an open position; wherein the canister and reservoir are
configured such that the canister can be engaged with the reservoir
with the door and lid in respective open positions such that
paintballs in the canister can flow into the reservoir; and a
releasable lock operative to maintain the canister in engagement
with the reservoir.
2. The system of claim 1 comprising a door bias element exerting a
door bias force on the door, and a lid bias element exerting a lid
bias force on the lid, and wherein engaging the canister with the
reservoir moves the door to the open position, and moves the lid to
the open position.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the door bias force is exerted on
the door toward the closed position, and the lid bias force is
exerted on the lid toward the open position, and further comprising
a releasable lid latch operative to maintain the lid in the closed
position against the lid bias force.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the door is pivotally attached to
the reservoir and the lid is pivotally attached to the canister,
and wherein engaging the canister with the reservoir releases the
lid latch.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the reservoir comprises a sleeve
defining the inlet opening and wherein the door comprises a door
hinge attached to the reservoir such that when in the closed
position the door covers an inner end of the sleeve, and when in
the open position the door moves into the reservoir.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the canister comprises a lid hinge
extending laterally from a body of the canister, and wherein the
lid is attached to an open end of the canister by the lid hinge,
and wherein the sleeve comprises a hinge groove therein such that
during engagement of the canister with the reservoir the canister
is inserted into the sleeve such that the lid hinge moves along the
hinge groove.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the sleeve further comprises a
latch groove substantially opposite the hinge groove, and wherein
during engagement of the canister with the reservoir the canister
is inserted into the sleeve such that the lid latch moves along the
latch groove into contact with a plunger, and such that moving the
canister further into the sleeve pushes the lid latch against the
plunger and releases the lid latch.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the hinge groove and latch groove
are tapered from a wider portion at outer ends thereof to a
narrower portion at inner ends thereof.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the lock is provided by the
plunger engaging a notch in the lid latch when the canister is
engaged with the reservoir and wherein the plunger is movable such
that the canister can be released from engagement by moving the
plunger out of the notch.
10. The system of claim 9 further comprising: an ejection bias
element operative to exert an ejection bias force against the
canister when the canister is engaged with the reservoir; a
paintball sensor operative to send a sensor signal when a level of
paintballs in the reservoir falls below a desired level; and a
solenoid operative to receive the sensor signal and operative to
move the plunger out of the notch in response to the sensor signal;
wherein when the level of paintballs in the reservoir falls below
the desired level the canister is ejected.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the ejection bias element is at
least partially provided by the door bias element.
12. The system of claim 6 wherein during engagement of the canister
with the reservoir a portion of the canister bears against a
portion of the door to move the door toward the open position.
13. The system of claim 7 wherein the lid bias force is greater
than the door bias force such that when the lid latch is released
the lid moves toward the open position and contacts the door and
moves the door toward the open position.
14. The system of claim 2 wherein the door bias force is exerted on
the door toward the closed position, and the lid bias force is
exerted on the lid toward the closed position.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the lid is slidably attached to
the canister, and wherein during engagement of the canister with
the reservoir the lid bears against the reservoir and slides toward
the open position.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein during engagement the canister
is inserted into the inlet opening of the reservoir.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein the door is pivotally attached
to the reservoir.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein the reservoir comprises a sleeve
defining the inlet opening and wherein the door is attached to the
reservoir by a door hinge such that when in the closed position the
door covers an inner end of the sleeve, and when in the open
position the door moves into the reservoir.
19. The system of claim 16 wherein the door is slidably attached to
the reservoir.
20. The system of claim 16 wherein the reservoir comprises a sleeve
and wherein the inlet opening is located in an inner bottom portion
of the sleeve, and wherein when the canister is inserted into the
sleeve of the reservoir the canister bears against the door and
moves the door toward the open position as it is inserted.
21. The system of claim 14 wherein the releasable lock engages the
sleeve and the canister.
22. The system of claim 21 further comprising: an ejection bias
element operative to exert an ejection bias force against the
canister when the canister is engaged with the reservoir; a
paintball sensor operative to send a sensor signal when a level of
paintballs in the reservoir falls below a desired level; and a
solenoid operative to receive the sensor signal and operative to
release the lock in response to the sensor signal; wherein when the
level of paintballs in the reservoir falls below the desired level
the canister is ejected.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein the ejection bias element is at
least partially provided by the door bias element.
24. The system of claim 22 wherein the ejection bias element is at
least partially provided by the lid bias element.
25. A loading system for a paintball gun, the system comprising: a
paintball reservoir having an outlet at a bottom thereof adapted
for connection to a paintball gun such that paintballs contained in
the reservoir will flow through the outlet from the reservoir into
the paintball gun for firing; an inlet opening in an upper portion
of the reservoir, and a door operative to cover the inlet opening
when in a closed position, and movable to an open position; a door
bias element exerting a door bias force on the door; a paintball
canister having an outlet opening, and a lid operative to cover the
outlet opening when in a closed position, and movable to an open
position; a lid bias element exerting a lid bias force on the lid;
wherein the canister and reservoir are configured such that the
canister can be moved into engagement with the reservoir, and such
that engaging the canister with the reservoir moves the door and
lid to respective open positions such that paintballs in the
canister can flow into the reservoir; and a releasable lock
operative to maintain the canister in engagement with the
reservoir.
26. The system of claim 25 further comprising: an ejection bias
element operative to exert an ejection bias force against the
canister when the canister is engaged with the reservoir; a
paintball sensor operative to send a sensor signal when a level of
paintballs in the reservoir falls below a desired level; and a
solenoid operative to receive the sensor signal and operative to
release the lock in response to the sensor signal; wherein when the
level of paintballs in the reservoir falls below the desired level
the canister is ejected.
27. The system of claim 25 wherein the lid is mounted in sliding
relationship to a wall of the canister.
28. The system of claim 27 wherein the outlet opening in the
canister is located in a side wall of the canister adjacent to a
front end wall of the canister, and wherein the lid slides toward a
rear end of the canister when moving to the open position, and
wherein the lid bias force is exerted on the lid toward the front
end wall such that the lid bias force urges the lid toward the
closed position.
29. The system of claim 27 wherein the canister further comprises a
closable input opening.
30. The system of claim 27 wherein the door is mounted in sliding
relationship to a wall of the reservoir.
31. The system of claim 27 wherein the door is mounted in pivoting
relationship to a wall of the reservoir.
32. The system of claim 25 wherein the outlet opening in the
canister comprises a substantially open end on the canister and
wherein the lid is pivotally mounted to a lid hinge adjacent to the
open end of the canister, and wherein the lid bias force urges the
lid toward the open position, and further comprising a releasable
lid latch operative to maintain the lid in the closed position
against the lid bias force.
33. The system of claim 32 wherein the reservoir comprises a sleeve
defining the inlet opening and wherein the door is attached to the
reservoir by a door hinge such that when in the closed position the
door covers an inner end of the sleeve, and when in the open
position the door moves into the reservoir, and wherein during
engagement of the canister with the reservoir the canister is
inserted into the sleeve and forces the door to the open position.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to devices used in the sport of
paintball, and in particular loading systems for paintball
guns.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The sport of paintball has become increasingly popular since
its inception in the early 1980's. Adapting paint marker guns
previously used for marking trees and livestock, players have
developed a series of informal and formal games in which opposing
individuals or teams seeks to score points either through hitting a
competitor with a "shot" or by hitting targets. Players may also
act out military-style fantasy games in a safe manner through the
sport of paintball. Because of the fast-paced excitement of the
game, the sport of paintball has become popular worldwide, with
millions of participants, organized events, and even professional
leagues. As with many other sports, with improvements to paintball
guns, gun loading systems and protective equipment, advances in
technology have enhanced both the enjoyment and safety of the sport
of paintball.
[0003] For casual and advanced players, the typical set of gear
used in a game includes a paintball gun, paintball ammunition, and
protective clothing and eyewear. Such paintball guns are described
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,819,609 to Tippman and 4,936,282 to Dobbins et
al. Typically, paintball guns include a semi-automatic loading
system comprising a paintball reservoir on the top of the gun into
which paintballs are poured, and which operates as ammunition
storage. Individual rounds are fed from the paintball reservoir
into the firing chamber of the gun either by gravity feed or by a
motorized feeder. Motorized feeders are especially popular with
advanced players as the number of rounds that can be fed per minute
is greatly increased over gravity-fed loader systems, allowing the
player to take more shots in a given period of time. Thus, the
ability to load and fire a paintball gun rapidly is a highly
desirable feature of equipment for use in the sport.
[0004] In preparation for a game, players will fill the paintball
reservoir on the gun with paintballs. Advanced players, and
especially those in competitions will also carry additional
paintballs, typically in portable plastic canisters or tubes,
adapted to fit onto a belt worn by the player. Once the player uses
up the paintballs in the paintball reservoir, they will add
additional paintballs by opening a portable canister and then
pouring the contents into the paintball reservoir. This type of
reloading system requires time to open a paintball canister and the
hopper and then pour the contents into the gun. This process of
manual reloading means that during reloading, the process of
opening lids and pouring paintballs occupies the player's
attention. Therefore, during reloading it is awkward to fire the
paintball gun, and the player is especially vulnerable to attack by
other players. As the game of paintball frequently involves fast
play and intense action, these distractions and down time place a
player who is engaged in the process of reloading at a distinct
disadvantage relative to their opponents. Further, reloading often
must be done at inconvenient times such as when the player is under
attack, or in the middle of an offensive tactical maneuver.
[0005] Additionally, pouring paintballs from a portable canister
into a hopper is not a precise operation, and prone to errors such
as the spilling of paintballs on the ground. Spilled paintballs are
invariably discarded, as there is not time to retrieve them during
the course of play. In addition, spilling paintballs results in a
reduction in the number of shots a player has to use in a game.
Similarly, once the lid has been opened on a prior art paintball
canister, their is risk of spilling the entire contents of the
canister, requiring the player to spend more time reloading, and
resulting in further waste of ammunition. U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,157
to Parks is directed toward the problem of spilling paintballs. The
Parks patent discloses a portable canister with a petal-shaped
valve on one end that opens as the canister is inserted into a
compatible valve type opening on a paintball reservoir, which also
opens as the canister is inserted. When the paintballs from the
canister have flowed into the paintball reservoir, the canister is
withdrawn and the opening on the paintball reservoir closes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention is to provide a
paintball loading system that overcomes problems in the prior
art.
[0007] The present invention provides in one embodiment, a loading
system for a paintball gun. The system comprises a paintball
reservoir having an outlet at a bottom thereof adapted for
connection to a paintball gun such that paintballs contained in the
reservoir will flow through the outlet from the reservoir into the
paintball gun for firing. An inlet opening is defined in an upper
portion of the reservoir, and a door is operative to cover the
inlet opening when in a closed position, and movable to an open
position. A paintball canister has an opening, and a lid operative
to cover the opening in the canister when in a closed position, and
movable to an open position. The canister and reservoir are
configured such that the canister can be engaged with the reservoir
with the door and lid in respective open positions such that
paintballs in the canister can flow into the reservoir. A
releasable lock is operative to maintain the canister in engagement
with the reservoir.
[0008] In a second embodiment the invention provides a loading
system for a paintball gun. The system comprises a paintball
reservoir having an outlet at a bottom thereof adapted for
connection to a paintball gun such that paintballs contained in the
reservoir will flow through the outlet from the reservoir into the
paintball gun for firing. An inlet opening is defined in an upper
portion of the reservoir, and a door operative to cover the inlet
opening when in a closed position, and movable to an open position,
and a door bias element exerts a door bias force on the door. A
paintball canister has an outlet opening, and a lid operative to
cover the outlet opening when in a closed position, and movable to
an open position, and a lid bias element exerts a lid bias force on
the lid. The canister and reservoir are configured such that the
canister can be moved into engagement with the reservoir, and such
that engaging the canister with the reservoir moves the door and
lid to respective open positions such that paintballs in the
canister can flow into the reservoir. A releasable lock is
operative to maintain the canister in engagement with the
reservoir.
[0009] The loading system of the invention provides a portable
paintball canister that removably attaches rapidly and easily to a
paintball reservoir on a paintball gun, and which is left in place
on the paintball reservoir until it is empty. As paintballs are
fired, they exit from the bottom of the paintball reservoir and
paintballs flow from the canister into the reservoir. When the
paintball canister is empty, it can be removed, leaving the
reservoir still at least partially filled with paintballs, and the
gun therefore still loaded. At that time the paintball canister can
be removed, and replaced immediately, or removed and then replaced
later, but prior to the reservoir running empty, in a two stage
operation. This provides flexibility to the shooter as to when he
must reload, and allows him to choose when to do so.
[0010] The apparatus is conveniently configured such that inserting
portable canister in the opening in the paintball reservoir
automatically opens the lid of the canister and the door of the
paintball reservoir, allowing paintballs to flow freely into the
reservoir, and prevents the waste of paintballs due to spilling.
The portable paintball canister is held in place by the attachment
mechanism.
[0011] Conveniently, the apparatus comprises a sensor that detects
when the canister is empty, and then causes the canister to eject.
The door on the paintball reservoir will close to prevent spillage
of paintballs. Alternatively or in addition the sensor can alert
the player when the portable canister is empty, notifying the
shooter that he should replace it with a full canister sometime
soon. A system of sensors can be provided to detect the level of
paintballs in the loader chamber. The sensors can be adapted to
provide a visible or audible warning to a player that the paintball
reservoir is nearly empty or at a predetermined level.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions
hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying
detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction
with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the
several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of a
loading system of the present invention with a hinged lid on the
canister and showing the paintball canister adjacent to the
reservoir prior to insertion into the sleeve on the reservoir;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic end view of the sleeve on the
reservoir in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the sleeve on the
reservoir in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIGS. 4-6 are schematic side views of the embodiment of FIG.
1 showing the paintball canister moving progressively further into
the sleeve;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1
showing the paintball canister fully engaged in the sleeve;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of an alternate embodiment
of a loading system of the present invention with a sliding lid on
the canister and showing the paintball canister adjacent to the
reservoir prior to insertion into the reservoir;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of FIG. 8
showing the paintball canister fully engaged in the sleeve;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of an alternate embodiment
of a loading system of the present invention with a sliding lid on
the canister and a sliding door on the reservoir, and showing the
paintball canister adjacent to the reservoir prior to insertion
into the reservoir;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of FIG. 9
showing the paintball canister fully engaged in the sleeve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] FIGS. 1-7 schematically illustrate a loading system 1 for a
paintball gun. The system comprises a paintball reservoir 2 having
an outlet 4 at a bottom thereof adapted for connection to a
paintball gun such that paintballs contained in the reservoir 2
will flow through the outlet 4 from the reservoir 2 into the
paintball gun for firing.
[0023] An inlet opening 6 is defined in an upper portion of the
reservoir 2, and a door 8 is operative to cover the inlet opening 6
when in a closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and is movable
to an open position, illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In the
illustrated embodiment the reservoir 2 comprises a sleeve 10
defining the inlet opening 6 at an inner end thereof, and the door
8 is attached to the reservoir 2 by a door hinge 12 such that when
in the closed position the door 8 covers an inner end of the sleeve
10, and when in the open position the door 8 moves into the
reservoir 2. A door bias element, conveniently a spring inside the
door hinge 12, exerts a door bias force DF on the door 8 toward the
closed position.
[0024] A paintball canister 14 is open at one end thereof, and a
lid 16 is operative to cover the open end of the canister 14 when
in a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 1, and the lid 16 is
movable to an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In the
illustrated embodiment the canister 14 comprises a lid hinge 18
extending laterally from a body of the canister 14, and the lid 16
is attached to the open end of the canister 14 by the lid hinge 18.
A lid bias element, conveniently a spring inside the lid hinge 18,
exerts a lid bias force LF toward the open position.
[0025] A releasable lid latch 20 is operative to maintain the lid
16 in the closed position against the lid bias force LF. As best
seen in FIGS. 4-7, the lid latch 20 defines a lip notch 26, and a
plunger notch 28, and the lid latch is biased outward from the
canister 14. When the lid 16 is moved against the lid bias force LF
to the closed position, a lip 30 extending from the lid 16 engages
the lip notch 26 and the lid latch maintains the lid 16 in the
closed position against the lid bias force LF.
[0026] The sleeve 10 comprises a hinge groove 22 therein such that
during engagement of the canister 14 with the reservoir 2 the
canister 14 is inserted into the sleeve 10 such that the lid hinge
18 moves along the hinge groove 22. A similar latch groove 24 in
the sleeve 10 substantially opposite the hinge groove 22 allows the
lid latch 20, during insertion, to move along the latch groove
24.
[0027] As seen in FIG. 3, the hinge groove 22 and latch groove 24
are tapered from a wider portion at outer ends thereof to a
narrower portion at inner ends thereof, such that during insertion
precise alignment of the lid hinge 18 and lid latch 20 with their
respective grooves 22, 24 is not required, and during insertion the
canister 14 will rotate in the sleeve 10 to the proper orientation
as the lid hinge 18 and lid latch 20 move along the tapered grooves
22, 24.
[0028] FIGS. 4-7 show the canister 14 being inserted progressively
further into the sleeve 10. In FIG. 4 the lid has just contacted a
plunger 32 mounted on the reservoir. The plunger 32 is biased
toward the center of the sleeve 10, and as the canister 14 is
inserted further, the lid 16 bears against the sloped surface of
the plunger 32 and pushes it inward.
[0029] In FIG. 5 the plunger is still bearing against the lid 16
and lug 34 on the lid hinge 18 has just contacted lug 36 on the
door hinge 12. In FIG. 6 the lug 34 bears against the lug 36 and
pushes the door 8 toward the open position, and the plunger 32 has
just passed the edge of the lid 16 and so bears against the lid
latch 20. Thus movement of the canister 14 further into the sleeve
10 pushes the lid latch 20 against the plunger 32. The inward bias
force on the plunger 32 is greater than the outward bias force on
the latch 20, and so the plunger 32 pushes the lid latch 2o inward
and the lip 30 is released from the lip notch 26, and moves to the
open position as illustrated in FIG. 7 in response the lid bias
force LF. Engaging the canister 14 with the sleeve in the reservoir
2 thus automatically moves the door 8 and the lid 16 to their open
positions so that paintballs can flow from the canister 14 into the
reservoir 2.
[0030] In an alternate embodiment, the lid bias force LF could be
substantially greater than the door bias force, such that when the
lid latch 20 was released, the lid bias force was great enough to
move the lid 16 into contact with the door 8 and move the door 8
and lid 16 to the open position. In such case the lugs 34, 36 on
the door hinge 12 and lid hinge 18 would not be required.
[0031] In the position illustrated in FIG. 7, the plunger 32
engages the plunger notch 28 and prevents the canister 14 from
moving out of the sleeve 10, thereby providing a lock operative to
maintain the canister 14 in engagement with the sleeve 10 on the
reservoir 2.
[0032] The player operating the paintball gun can then fire
paintballs, drawing paintballs out the outlet 4 at the bottom of
the reservoir 2, and thus allowing paintballs from the canister 14
to flow through the cooperating openings from the canister 14 into
the reservoir 2 until all the paintballs in the canister 14 have
flowed into the reservoir 2. At that time the player can remove the
empty canister 14, and replace it with a full canister, all the
while maintaining his ability to fire the paintball gun because
ammunition is still present in the reservoir 2.
[0033] The plunger 32 is movable such that the canister 14 can be
released from engagement by moving the plunger 32 out of the
plunger notch 28. A lever that is manually operated could readily
be provided, to move the plunger 32 and allow the player to
manually remove the canister 14, however in the illustrated
embodiment of FIG. 1, the system is configured to automatically
eject the canister 14 when it is empty.
[0034] A sensor 40 is provided that is operative to send a sensor
signal when the level of paintballs in the reservoir 2 has dropped
below a desired level. The sensor 40 can be an LED photoreceptor,
electromechanical switch, or like sensor such as are well known in
the art. The sensor 40 is connected through a circuit board or the
like to a solenoid 42 operative to receive the sensor signal and
operative to move the plunger 32 out of the plunger notch 28 in
response to the sensor signal. An ejection bias force is exerted
against the canister 14 when the canister 14 is engaged with the
reservoir 2. This ejection bias force is at least partially
provided by the door bias force DF which is urging the canister 14
out of the sleeve 10, and further ejection bias elements can be
provided if required, as discussed below. Thus when the level of
paintballs in the reservoir 2 falls below the desired level, the
sensor 40 triggers the solenoid 42 which draws the plunger 32 out
of the plunger notch 28 and the canister 14 is ejected. The door 8
moves to the closed position in response to the door bias force DF
so that paintballs don't spill out the inlet opening 6.
[0035] Ejecting the empty canister 14 automatically advises the
player that it is time to insert a full canister 14, and also saves
time in that it is not necessary to remove the empty canister prior
to replacing it with a full one. Instead of automatically ejecting
the canister 14 when empty, the sensor can instead, or in addition,
provide a visible or audible alarm. Further sensors 40 can be
provided and configured to warn a player that his ammunition is at
any one of a given number of different levels.
[0036] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an alternate embodiment 101 of the
loading system of the invention where the lid 116 is slidably
attached to the canister 114 by flanges 115. The reservoir 102
comprises a short sleeve 110 defining the inlet opening 106 and the
door 108 is attached to the reservoir 102 by the door hinge 112
such that when in the closed position the door 108 covers an inner
end of the sleeve 110, and when in the open position the door 108
moves into the reservoir 102. The door bias force DF is exerted on
the door 108 toward the closed position, and the lid bias force LF
in this embodiment is exerted on the lid 116 toward the closed
position by a lid bias element 117.
[0037] To engage the canister 114 with the reservoir 102, the
canister 114 is inserted into the inlet opening 106 of the
reservoir 102, and during engagement the lid 116 bears against the
reservoir 102 at a bottom edge of the outer end of the sleeve 110
and slides toward the open position illustrated in FIG. 9 as the
canister 114 is inserted. Inserting the canister 114 into the
sleeve 110 causes the canister 114 to bear against the door 108 and
move it to the open position of FIG. 9. When fully engaged, the
canister 114 is locked to the reservoir 102 by a pivoting latch
member 160 that engages a latch peg 162 extending from the wall of
the canister 114. Alternatively the latch member 160 could be
oriented to engage a notch in the wall of the canister in order to
keep the outer surface of the canister 114 smooth such that same
does not catch on clothing etc.
[0038] A sensor 140 is provided that is operative to send a sensor
signal when the level of paintballs in the reservoir 102 has
dropped below a desired level. The sensor 140 triggers a solenoid
142 operative to move the latch member 160 off the latch peg 162 in
response to the sensor signal. An ejection bias force is exerted
against the canister 114 when the canister 114 is engaged with the
reservoir 102. This ejection bias force is at least partially
provided by the door bias force DF which is urging the canister 114
out of the sleeve 110, and in this embodiment also by the lid bias
force LF which is also urging the canister 114 out of the sleeve
110. Further ejection bias elements 164 can be provided as
required. Thus when the level of paintballs in the reservoir 102
falls below the desired level, the sensor 140 triggers the solenoid
142 and the canister 114 is ejected. The door 108 moves to the
closed position in response to the door bias force DF
[0039] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate another alternate embodiment 201
of the loading system of the invention where the lid 216 is
slidably attached to the canister 214 by flanges 215. The reservoir
202 comprises a sleeve 210 extending into the interior of the
reservoir 202 and defining the inlet opening 206 in a bottom
portion thereof. The door 208 is slidably attached to the bottom of
the sleeve 210 by flanges 213 such that when in the closed position
the door 208 covers the inlet opening 206 in the bottom of the
sleeve 210, and when in the open position the door 208 moves toward
the inner end of the sleeve 210. The door 208 may be mounted on the
inside or the outside of the sleeve 210, and the illustration is
schematic only. The door bias force DF is exerted by the door bias
element 209 on the door 208 toward the closed position, and the lid
bias force LF in this embodiment is exerted on the lid 216 toward
the closed position by a lid bias element 217.
[0040] To engage the canister 214 with the reservoir 202, the
canister 214 is inserted into the inlet opening 206 of the
reservoir 202, and during engagement the lid 216 bears against the
reservoir 202 at a bottom edge of the outer end of the sleeve 210
and slides toward the open position illustrated in FIG. 9 as the
canister 214 is inserted. Inserting the canister 214 into the
sleeve 210 causes the canister 214 to bear against the door 208 and
move it to the open position of FIG. 10. When fully engaged, the
canister 214 is locked to the reservoir 202 by a pivoting latch
member 260 that engages a latch peg 262 extending from the wall of
the canister 214 or a recess in the wall of the canister 214. The
opening in the canister 214 is aligned with the inlet opening 206
of the reservoir, and paint balls can flow into the reservoir
202.
[0041] It is generally desirable to fill paintball canisters to
full capacity such that the paintballs do not shake and make noise
during the game. In the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, filling to
full capacity may be difficult through the opening in the canister
wall under the lid 216. The canister 214 therefore has an open end
and a pop-in top 270 fitted to seal the open end allowing filling
through the open end of the canister 214 in a conventional
manner.
[0042] A sensor 240 is provided that is operative to send a sensor
signal when the level of paintballs in the reservoir 202 has
dropped below a desired level. The sensor 240 triggers a solenoid
242 operative to move the latch member 260 off the latch peg 262 in
response to the sensor signal. An ejection bias force is exerted
against the canister 214 when the canister 214 is engaged with the
reservoir 202 and is at least partially provided by the door bias
force DF which is urging the canister 214 out of the sleeve 210,
and in this embodiment also by the lid bias force LF which is also
urging the canister 214 out of the sleeve 210. Further ejection
bias elements 264 can be provided as required. Thus when the level
of paintballs in the reservoir 202 falls below the desired level,
the sensor 240 triggers the solenoid 242 and the canister 214 is
ejected. The door 208 moves to the closed position in response to
the door bias force DF.
[0043] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and
modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable
changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be
resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed
invention.
* * * * *